400 Gather for Brunch Bunch in Kent

With gratitude the theme of yesterday’s holiday, an estimated 400 area residents of all ages gathered from 8 a.m. to noon at the Kent American Legion for an annual fundraiser to ensure others can have something to be thankful for.

Held each year on Thanksgiving morning, Brunch Bunch raises money to help feed those in need. Through its auction of donated items and services, as well as a $3 admission fee, the event raised $37,000 in 2011 and more than $34,000 was raised Thursday.

“We had another great year,” event chairwoman Michelle Hartman said. “Over the past 43 years, there’s probably been nearly $400,000 raised by the Brunch Bunch.”

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to four programs: Kent Social Services’ hot meals; The Center of Hope food pantry; Coleman Professional Services Adult Day Food program; and The Lord’s Pantry emergency food cupboard.

For many Kent families, the Brunch Bunch has become a longstanding tradition.

“We come every year. Every single year,” Abbey Bower said. A junior at Theodore Roosevelt High School, she came with family and friends. Her father, Jeff Bower, said he has been coming to the event for 20 years.

“It’s a great community event and a great fundraiser,” Jeff Bower said.

Marking its 44th year, the Brunch Bunch featured local auctioneer Mike Tontimonia, who, like others, volunteered his services for the event. Joining him to assist in auctioning sports memorabilia from Kent State University were coaches and players from its men’s basketball team. Also auctioned, with
a winning bid of $1,050 was the chance to be an “honorary coach,” calling the first play for one of the team’s home games.

“Our team always enjoys coming out to this event,” head coach Rob Senderoff said, flanked by his daughter, Samantha, and senior players Randal Holt, Chris Evans, Brian Frank and director of operations Mike McKee.

Sipping coffee, cider and doughnuts, community residents lifted paddles to bid on items that varied from a basket brimming with medical supplies to a ride on the Goodyear Blimp, which was auctioned at $1,100.

“I see a lot of the same faces who come, year after year,” Hartman said. “They’re very spirited bidders, and sometimes things go for a lot more than anticipated. People have told us, ‘This is our donation for the year, so we come prepared to bid and bid high because we know it’s going for a good cause.'"

In conjunction with donations of time and services by several area businesses and organization, a 16-member committee of individual volunteers began planning over the summer for this year’s Brunch Bunch.

Dennis Missimi, whose family has helped coordinate the Brunch Bunch since 1989 and who as a youth participated in a community singing group that benefited from its proceeds, said committee volunteers and organizers are “just a conduit” for the generosity of the community.

“There’s no question that to see where Brunch Bunch started, and where it is today, is more than fulfilling for us," Missimi said. "But if we didn’t have the community coming to it every year, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”